Track walked at 1pm, Thursday 27 July 2023.
Winning post-1800 metres: Racing returns after a break to the main track for Lightning Stakes Day on Saturday, albeit with some showers around ensuring that we will be returning on a soft surface. With 5 mls of rain in the last 24 hours and 12 mls for the last week, the going is genuinely in the Soft range, rated a Soft 6 at the time of walking on Thursday afternoon and remaining there on Friday. The rail is out 2 metres for the entire circumference, meaning that that we have plenty of track to play with for the last Black Type race for the season. The track has held up reasonably well after the recent frosts, however a good grass cover is present for this time of the year and we are on fresh ground all the way around.
1800m-1200m: There is still good grass coverage all the way around to the 1200 metres and the track walks with little evidence of wear with the rail out slightly. There is no evidence of fill here but there will be kickback in wet conditions and would not surprise to see horses travel a horse off the fence turning into the back straight. There will be no disadvantage to be away from the fence in this position, even to the three and even four wide line, particularly with cover. Walks in the Soft 6 range, however more rain on Friday afternoon will have this getting towards the 7 range. With no further rain and some sunshine, it will maintain its 6 rating into race day.
1200m-800m: This part of the track also presents well and walked in the Soft 6 range on Thursday. With the rail out 2 metres, there is a fresh pad and this should not disadvantage runners close to the fence or in the one off line. There is no evidence of any wear and tear close to the fence, although it did walk a touch softer on the rail.
800m-400m: There is consistency from the fence out to the three wide line, with no evidence of wear. Again, the rail at 2 metres gives a good pad evenly out to the four and five wide line at this point. With increased moisture levels due to recent rain, expect this section to cut up and runners to come away from the fence from the 800 metre mark as the day goes on. Riders may be looking to get away from the fence in this section, as it will kick out early in the day. With big fields, this pattern will be expected to play out as the day goes on.
400m-Winning post: The track walked consistently and was in the Soft 6 range on Thursday afternoon. The track raced evenly over the Autumn carnival, with horses winning on the pace and from back in the field in recent meetings. There is no reason to suggest it won’t play the same on Saturday. The straight walks consistently from the fence out, with few signs of damage from the last few meetings over a month ago. It is expected that runners will be looking to make ground out wide, as jockeys will look to come to the middle of the track again. Most of the straight will again be used, as we have seen in recent months, although close to the fence to the three wide line will be no disadvantage.
Verdict: The track presents well for late July, given the inclement weather and overcast conditions prevailing on Thursday and Friday. It walks consistently in the Soft range, although has a good grass coverage for this time of the year. Any showers will ensure that there is some damage however and the track will favour genuine wet track runners, with the likelihood of being in the Soft 6 range for Saturday. The forecast looks promising that these showers will clear on race day, so that the track will not deteriorate into the Heavy range.
The first few races will give an indication of the state of the surface, which will show some kick back on race day. Look for horses fanning from the 600 metres towards the middle of the track, spreading out in the straight. This will also give the opportunity for horses to improve closer to the rails in the straight and it is expected to see horses coming to the middle of the track in the straight. With the rail out only two metres, winners could potentially come from everywhere, be it in the first few horses off the fence, or towards the middle of the track later in the day.
